Exploration / Tooling / Bits
Longyear
A HISTORY OF INNOVATION
Anglo American Corporation originally developed our diamond products in the 1930s to commercialize industrial-grade diamonds for the world’s leading diamond producer. Boart Products led the research and development program, enabling practical, reliable manufacturing of diamond coring bits.
Today, many diamond-bit marketers exist, but few have invested in bit development. Boart Longyear is dedicated to developing diamond bit technology. You can see it in our designs, such as the patented Stage®, Razorcut® and Longyear® innovations. You can trust us to deliver continued innovation.
RAZORCUT™
Boart Longyear’s patented Razorcut™ protrusions on the bit’s face contain diamonds that let the bit start cutting right out of the box, even in the softest ground. The arrangement of these protrusions also improves the tracking and balance in the hole when drilling begins.
INNOVATIVE WATERWAY GEOMETRY
Our newest geometry, the tapered swirl (TSW), offers fast penetration in competent ground, with the added ability to easily push cuttings in broken ground conditions to the OD thanks to the tapered design. This geometry is currently available in 20mm crown heights for extended life.
Above: gap in mechanically bonded diamond
LONGYEAR™ MATRIX
Boart Longyear successfully created a chemical bond between the diamond and the matrix, which is stronger than the diamond itself. Thanks to this chemical bond, diamonds can project farther above the matrix, allowing for longer life, higher penetration rates, and improved face flushing with the easy, smooth drilling characteristics that drillers prefer. This increases productivity throughout the operation.
By developing a proprietary furnace process to coat diamond bits, Boart Longyear has created a chemical bond between diamond and matrix. The bond is stronger than the diamond itself and provides higher diamond projection (up to 80% compared to 40% for mechanical bonding), improving flushing, penetration rates, and bit life.
Typical diamond coatings do not form chemical bonds because the strong oxide layer on typical titanium coatings results in the same 40% diamond projection as mechanical bonding. As a Longyear bit drills and the matrix wears down around the bottom, the diamond stays in place longer and acts like a larger diamond, resulting in more meters per bit.
Above: no gap in Longyear™ Diamond Bit matrix
Standard (STD)
Recommended for general-purpose use in competent, fine-grained formations.
Tapered (TW)
Recommended for general purposes in areas that can encounter broken ground. Pushes cuttings to the OD and reduces pressure across the bit face.
Tapered Swirl (TSW)
Recommended for fast penetration in competent ground with the ability to push cuttings from broken ground easily to OD.
Express (EX)
Recommended for fast penetration in competent formations.
STAGE and GT (STG, GT)
Recommended for maximum life. Wide waterways improve flushing of cuttings from the bit face.
Deep ID (DD)
Recommended for lost circulation by preventing the lifter case from pulling into the bit and shutting off water.
Face Discharge (FD)
Recommended for broken and soft formations. Reduces water pressure on the core and redirects fluid to the bit face.